Chapter 115: Beauty in Arms

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In Kung Fu, Chen Ge is a crucial clue character.

For the first half of the film, before Huo Yun Xie Shen appears, he is the biggest villain.

He is a man in a suit, dignified and imposing, slightly neurotic.

This villain, accompanied by a band of human demons, keeps succeeding without obstruction.

He is always in absolute control.

His large black tooth is evidence of his consumption of some substance.

A clean-cut young man by his side serves tea and water—and handles certain cut scenes—proof of his preference for men.

Every character in film and television is constructed with logic; characters don't just do whatever they want.

When actors portray characters, they shouldn't sob uncontrollably when they shouldn't cry, or wipe tears frantically when they shouldn't weep.

This emotional state can only be the actor's loss of control in experiential immersion—not the character's emotional logic.

Or rather, it's the result of performative emotion.

Every action and line has been shaped by audience approval and directorial guidance.

Cheng Chen's audition performance portrayed an almost manic, hallucinatory enjoyment of the pleasure brought by killing.

One moment he says, "I don't kill women," and the next he raises his gun and shoots the woman dead.

This inconsistent, contradictory personality makes his character more three-dimensional.

He is a true villain—he gives the woman hope, then personally destroys it.

He revels in this cycle of torment; if he had simply shot her outright, it might still be evil.

But the inconsistent "true love" principle, combined with Cheng Chen's manic laughter, bodily tremors of delight, and his elegant, carefree dance step as he leaves, heightens the effect.

The mockery before the killing and the casual ease afterward create a stark contrast that reveals his true nature.

"Do you think Chen Ge… is a pervert?"

After watching Cheng Chen's performance, Zhou Xingchi suddenly asked.

Cheng Chen shook his head and said:

"A pure pervert is someone whose psychology and behavior deviate from the norm, often doing things normal people can't understand or acting against reason—someone mentally ill or neurotic…"

"But Chen Ge isn't. From the script, you can see he unites the Axe Gang, his intelligence far surpasses others; all his actions serve the gang's interests—he is considered normal by the gang members."

"But…"

Cheng Chen glanced at Zhou Xingchi and continued:

"He is pure evil. Someone who knows they're bad or believes they're bad is merely an immature villain.

The truly terrifying one is the one who commits insane acts without realizing it, with clear intent, and derives pleasure from them.

Because he has already transcended the concept of 'evil'—he is the embodiment of 'evil' itself. Chen Ge is exactly such a person!"

Zhou Xingchi smiled thoughtfully and extended his hand.

"Pleasure doing business."

Hearing this, Cheng Chen's heart leapt with joy; he quickly grasped his hand and sincerely expressed his gratitude.

Zhou Xingchi waved his hand and said:

"Your performance and your understanding of the character make me feel you're perfect for this role.

Moreover, it has stirred many thoughts in me. Keep going—prepare well for your new album. We'll start filming in July."

"You've been following updates on my new album?"

Cheng Chen was stunned and asked suddenly.

"Heh, 'Hua Liu Wan Jiang,' right? Honestly, China has too many great things that haven't reached the world.

Two years ago, Li An's movie 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' showed the world Chinese Kung Fu and philosophy.

I hope our 'Kung Fu' can reach that height too—and I hope your 'Hua Liu' lets the world see the 'Kung Fu' of Chinese music."

Zhou Xingchi patted Cheng Chen's shoulder and spoke with deep emotion…

As he was leaving, Cheng Chen suddenly remembered something and asked with a smile:

"Is 'Kung Fu' really just a boy's fantasy—his failed heroism to save a beauty—manifesting as a bizarre, absurd dream?"

Cheng Chen still remembered clearly the moment he asked this question,

how Zhou Xingchi stared, dumbfounded, frozen in place.

After a long silence, Zhou Xingchi finally reacted, watching Cheng Chen's back, muttering:

"You bastard…"

If this were said in the future, Zhou Xingchi would probably have exploded, pointing at Cheng Chen:

"You brat! How dare you shatter my Dao heart!!!"

…

After the audition, Cheng Chen stayed in Gang Sheng for one day, then quietly returned to China.

He had wanted to find Zhang Baizhi, since when they rehearsed for the Spring Festival Gala in Jingcheng last time, she had told him to visit her in Gang Sheng if he had time.

But at this time, the Gang Sheng entertainment circle was still steeped in sorrow.

While Cheng Chen had been buried in preparing his album last month, the Heavenly King Superstar of Gang Sheng had fallen.

On April 1, 2003, Heavenly King Superstar Zhang Guorong leapt from the Oriental Hotel in Gang Sheng, ending his life at age 46.

The entire Chinese entertainment circle was stunned; although the internet was not as developed then,

with newspapers and television covering the story relentlessly, the news spread quickly throughout the Chinese world.

No one wanted to believe Zhang Guorong was playing such a cruel April Fools' joke.

On the day of Zhang Guorong's funeral, eight men—Xu Lao Guai, Zhang Xue You, Guan Jin Peng, Liang Jia Hui, and others—carried his coffin.

Almost all the stars from the Gang Sheng entertainment industry showed up, and fans from around the world filled the streets.

Light rain fell from the sky, as if heaven itself were weeping for Leslie Cheung; everyone was shrouded in an overwhelming sense of sorrow.

This sorrow was direct and intense—only those who lived through that Time could truly feel it.

Unlike later generations online, those who had never heard his songs, never encountered his works, and only knew him from fragments in comment sections.

They still wrote long, emotionally charged memorial posts every April 1st online.

Chasing clicks, chasing traffic, calling him "brother" with every breath, yet they wouldn't even bother to look him up on Baidu Baike.

Cheng Chen always held a contemptuous attitude toward such things…

After returning to the Mainland, Cheng Chen first went to Tianhai Records to check on the status of the new album.

After receiving confirmation that everything was going smoothly, he summoned Su Qingya over to ask how the collaboration with Tang Ren was progressing.

Tang Ren moved quickly—the script was already completed and sent over for review.

The director and production team had already been confirmed.

As one of the co-producers, Cheng Chen had the right to know every move regarding Xianjian Qixia Zhuan.

"Hmm, Tang Ren's efficiency is still high. Who's the director?"

Cheng Chen nodded and asked.

"Li Guo Li."

Cheng Chen nodded. Li Guo Li—he was a Gang Sheng director.

In 1997, he served as Production Director of the China Film Group, then later moved to the Mainland and founded his own Tang Ren Film International Co., Ltd., serving as director and producer.

Almost all of Tang Ren's wuxia dramas came from his hand—early works like Tian Di Chuan Shuo Zhi Yu Meiren and Tian Di Qing Yuan Zhi Bao Lian Deng, as well as post-millennium series like Xianjian Qixia Zhuan and Tian Wai Fei Xian.

He was the pillar among Tang Ren's directors; Tang Ren bringing him out signaled their firm determination to turn this drama into a hit.

Cheng Chen glanced at the calendar—it was already early May. If nothing went wrong, Xianjian Qixia Zhuan should begin filming by the end of this year.

Since the director had already been confirmed…

Thinking of this, Cheng Chen called Cai Yinong.

"Hey, Boss Cai, haha, been a bit busy lately, yeah, everything's going well. Actually, I have someone who wants to audition for the role of Lin Yueru…"

"Hahaha, isn't the director of Xianjian already confirmed? Right, no problem, hehe, you can trust my recommendation…"

After hanging up, Cheng Chen propped his legs on the table and idly played with his phone.

Just now, Cai Yinong had wanted to refuse—but could she refuse when the investor wanted to place someone in the crew?

Was twenty million yuan just thrown away? Besides, the two of them were in the "honeymoon phase" of cooperation—neither wanted to damage the relationship over something so small.

As for the person Cheng Chen arranged…

Of course, family comes first!

Don't ask which one!

"Hey, beautiful, got time for a ten-yuan phone chat?"

Hearing the laughter coming from the other end of the line, Cheng Chen instantly felt all his fatigue vanish…

The next day, Cheng Chen flew to Sha City.

He arrived at Yan Danchen's place.

"Big busybody, what brings you here today?"

Yan Danchen smiled.

"Missed you."

Cheng Chen embraced her, inhaling the faint fragrance emanating from her, and relaxed completely.

"You must be exhausted. Come, drink some soup first—it's been simmering since morning, just waiting for you to arrive."

Yan Danchen, wearing an apron, smiled.

"Alright!"

Cheng Chen sat down and drank the soup Yan Danchen had made; they chatted for a while, and Cheng Chen told her about his recent audition for Kung Fu.

"Ah! You met Xing Ye?"

Yan Danchen exclaimed in delight.

"Look at you getting so excited—it's not like you audition with the stagehand, right?"

Cheng Chen laughed.

"Aaaah! He's my idol! How's Xing Ye? Is he super funny?"

"And isn't he insanely handsome? Ever since I became an actress, I've dreamed of working with Xing Ye."

"Cheng Chen, you're so amazing! How did the audition go?"

Yan Danchen looked at Cheng Chen with hopeful eyes.

"When Brother Cheng steps in, one is worth two!"

Cheng Chen said with pride.

"So awesome! You're incredible!"

Yan Danchen hugged Cheng Chen's neck happily, beaming like a child.

Cheng Chen wrapped his arms around her waist and said:

"Besides the Kung Fu audition, I've recently invested in a TV drama."

Hearing this, Yan Danchen blinked her big eyes at him and asked:

"What TV drama?"

"A wuxia drama adapted from a game—Xianjian Qixia Zhuan—co-produced with Tang Ren."

"I've heard of Tang Ren—they've been really hot lately. Their dramas have good quality; they're one of the most prominent film and TV companies in the past two years."

She wasn't surprised at all that Cheng Chen had invested in a TV drama; in this circle, few people were truly dedicated to acting.

Some liked opening hotpot restaurants, others preferred building brands, and some chose careers tied to film and television—mostly directors, producers, or investors.

Given Cheng Chen's current fame, becoming a film and television investor was no surprise.

Moreover, a trend had begun rising: stars starting their own studios.

Studios leveraged a star's fame and influence, combined with company resources, for personal integration, sharing profits with the original company.

Stars launching studios under their contracted agencies became a common model in the future; artists received better service, and companies could better bind famous performers.

But this model suited only big-name stars.

"I've got something to tell you—your contract with the company ends next month, right?"

"You know I run an entertainment company—I want you to come work for me… As a token of loyalty, I've secured you the role of the third female lead in the new drama 'Tang Ren'…"

Cheng Chen had come here specifically to tell Yan Danchen this.

In the future, though she appeared in many film and television works, her lukewarm popularity was inseparable from her economic company.

If Yan Danchen were under her own company, given her looks and acting, it would be hard for her not to become a sensation.

Of course, that assumed Cheng Chen's Xinghuo Entertainment could grow strong and powerful—Cheng Chen had enough self-awareness to know that.

With so many outstanding TV dramas and films from the future in his hands, plus information asymmetry, Xinghuo couldn't possibly fail!

Hearing Cheng Chen's words, Yan Danchen hesitated slightly, then lifted her stunningly beautiful face and asked with innocent expression:

"So you'll be my boss, and I'll be your employee—you'll definitely bully me to death!"

Cheng Chen hadn't expected her to ask that; he laughed and said:

"Or maybe you'll be the boss's wife—I wouldn't dare bully you."

"Smooth talker… I'll finish the handover with the company later; once my contract ends, I'll go to Xinghuo."

Yan Danchen thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

"So, you're not afraid I'll bully you anymore?"

Yan Danchen rolled her eyes at him and said:

"The title 'boss's wife'… hmm… sounds nice."

Yan Danchen whispered.

"My sweetheart's so great—we'll be a husband-and-wife team now! Hahaha, let's take over the entertainment industry!"

Cheng Chen exclaimed excitedly.

"Show-off."

Yan Danchen rolled her eyes at him.

"By the way, what's going on with you and Huang Xiaoming?"

Yan Danchen asked suddenly.

"Huh?"

Asked like that, Cheng Chen was momentarily confused, then remembered what Su Qingya had told him about Huang Xiaoming and Deng Chao commenting on him.

"Oh, nothing much—just envy and jealousy. They think I stole their commercial gigs and endorsements."

"But the sponsors came to me directly, and the company approved it—I had no reason to refuse."

Cheng Chen said innocently.

Yan Danchen nodded.

"By the way, Huang Jiaozhu… ah, Huang Xiaoming's still your classmate—what's he like?"

Cheng Chen suddenly remembered to ask.

"Him? How to put it… his professional foundation is average; our teacher often called him a 'beautiful log.'"

In college, he could only follow Chen Kun, running around auditioning for roles.

Whenever there was an audition or commercial shoot, Chen Kun would bring him along to get his face known and seize opportunities.

They shared resources—whichever one had something would pull the other in; they were absolute best friends.

Later, at graduation, our teacher Cui Xin Qin saw he still hadn't landed any substantial roles, so she recommended him a weighty part.

Under the guidance of veteran actors like Chen Daoming in 'The Great Han Emperor,' he finally woke up, opened up his acting range, and finally became a little famous…

…